The Search For America's Best Restroom

When you gotta go, you gotta go, but you might want to unzip here.

We've all been there -- You're on the road or walking around town and suddenly you've got to "go." No Starbucks or McDonald's in sight and you're scrambling to find a bathroom, and fast, and then you find yourself squatting in some filthy gas station bathroom. Yuck.

Well, a new competition proves that not all public restrooms are created equally.

America's Best Restroom is a real competition where you get to vote on the bathroom where you'd most like to go -- it's like American Idol for bathrooms! Sponsored by Cintas Corporation and already in its ninth season, hundreds of entries were narrowed down to only ten bodacious bathroom finalists, one of whom will have the bragging rights to be called "America's Best Restroom."

The finalists are all stylistically very different from one another. They were chosen because they all have something important in common: cleanliness. When it comes to the throne, I'll take cleanliness over design any day of the week. But this competition is about who's polished and pretty.

Take a look at the finalists below -- you'll never look at number two the same.

The Fountain on Locust is a popular restaurant in St. Louis, Missouri (above left, lower left) has beautiful ornate fixtures and lots of designer mirrors and other reflective surfaces. It looks very sparkly.

Lawrence Dumont Stadium in Wichita, Kansas (above right, lower right) makes you feel cozy and at home with its hand-painted murals and lots of floral accents. It also has an adorable baby-changing area adorned as the "Lil' Rookie Changing Station."

I never would have guessed that the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, California (above left, lower left)) would have such a modern and clean look! The beachy bathroom even has an undulating roof reminiscent of ocean waves.

The Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah (above right, lower right) is a gorgeous hotel to begin with, but their restrooms are phenomenal. With Carerra marble, bronze and crystal chandeliers, floor-to-ceiling commodes and beautifully inlaid African Anegre Wood, this luxurious bath sure does make you feel like a princess. I've been lucky enough to stay at the Grand America and while there, everyone kept saying "you've gotta go see the bathroom!"


Rivue Restaurant & Lounge in Louisville, Kentucky (above left, lower left) boasts custom light fixtures, translucent red sinks, floor-to-ceiling red stall doors and cloth towels. Don't you just love a cloth towel?

The Embassy Theatre in Fort Wayne, Indiana (above right, lower right) has a unique Egyptian design with ornate fireplaces, fancy gilded columns and custom wall treatments. It really feels like you're in a palace.


The swanky bathroom in the China Grill at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada (above left, lower left) has fancy lit fountains and individual glowing pods, each with its own TV.

Bryant Park in New York City (above right, lower right) has a full-time attendant, fresh cut flowers, scented oils and electronic seat covers.

The Muse Hotel in New York City (above left) has individualized restrooms, each themed for a different Muse.

Joe's Farm Grill in Gilbert, Arizona (above right) makes eating and washing up fun with their futuristic design that features TVs, G.I. Joe and Barbie Dolls, and automated fixtures.

So who do you think is going to flush -- er -- crush the competition? Head on over to America's Best Restroom to vote and tell us who has your vote in the comments! Voting is open until August 31, 2010 and the winner will be announced in September.

For our Canadian ShelterPop-ers, there's a similar competition called Canada's Best Restroom!

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And see ShelterPop's archive of bathrooms!